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CNL Brass supported the fundraising market afternoon at Valentine Primary School on Saturday 5 November. The funds raised were to assist the Valentine School’s Junior and Senior Band.

Doug Hoepper features of Flugel Horn in the number “Autumn Leaves”

Entertainment was organised from 1pm to 5pm, with the senior school band opening the entertainment, followed by the junior band and the school choir. Warners Bay High School’s three bands and vocal group followed. CNL Brass was the last performing band, opening with the “circus march” Entry of the Gladiators and closing with the Stevie Wonder jazz tribute number to Duke Ellington, Sir Duke. In all, a program of twelve numbers was presented from 4pm to 5pm. Teena Wallace, assistant musical director, conducted the band.

This Concert included the three items presented for adjudication at the State Brass Band Championships on Saturday 20 August, in which CNL Brass came third.

The Concert opened with the State Test El Camino Real, an authentic Spanish music composition with a flourishing opening, a middle section of quiet harmony and a very lively ending. It attracted sustained applause from the audience. National Emblem contrasted as a brass band march. The Cossack Patrol added a Russian flavour, while the Hymn The Day Thou Gavest, adjudicated at the State Contest, and still with enduring popularity after 140 years, created a contemplative, but enjoyable mood. The sounds of London, in the Three Movements of Philip Sparke’s Portrait of a City (State Own Choice) were well-accepted. The Robbie Williams biggest selling single Angels changed the tempo. The first half wrapped up with three number 1 hits for Neil Diamond in the medley Sweet Caroline, Song Sung Blue and Holly Holy.

The second half commenced with the slow march Men of Harlech, written as a tribute to the Welshmen who defended Harlech Castle in Wales in the fifteenth century. Clarence Leung, solo cornet, then led the band with the romantic Serenade. Next was Stevie Wonder’s tribute to Duke Ellington, the jazz classic Sir Duke. The audience joined in with “lots of clapping” to the popular march Blaze Away. I Write the Songs, a number one hit for Barry Manilow followed. Jim Webb’s composition MacArthur Park proved popular. The Concert concluded with two very lively number one hits for The Village People, In the Navy and Go West.

A very responsive audience of about one hundred were entertained with a total of sixteen numbers.

A variety of music styles was presented in this Concert, ranging from
swing, sacred, jazz, ballad to classical and popular. The Concert opened with Glenn Miller’s big band number In The Mood. Three solo cornets, including the musical director Dave Thompson, featured next in the very busy Bugler’s Holiday, followed by the very contrasting Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu, from Requiem. The first and third Movements of Philip Sparke’s Portrait of a City, Skyline and Downtown, were well-received. Doug Hoepper’s solo performance on flugel horn of the ballad Autumn Leaves proved popular.

Doug Hoepper features on flugel horn

The first half concluded with the well known Russian folk song Kalinka.

Barrie Gott’s Light-Walk was a bright start for the second half, which included the evergreen march Colonel Bogey and a number of World War II vintage, made popular by Dame Vera Lynn and Marlene Dietrich, Lili Marlene. The Hollies hit He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, featured Merv Gale on tenor horn. J S Bach’s Toccata in D Minor added a classical touch. The concluding number, The Village People’s greatest hit YMCA, saw a large number in the audience joining in the arm movements, at appropriate times, to “spell out” the letters YMCA, being led by two of the ladies of the cornet section, Teena and Jou.

A very responsive audience of about one hundred were entertained with a total of sixteen numbers.

Dawn Service: CNL Brass supported Pelican Flat RSL Sub Branch by providing the music for the Dawn Service. Musical Director Dave Thompson played the Last Post and Reveille from a prominent position an elevated platform just above and to the rear of the Memorial.

Morning Service: CNL Brass supported Stockton RSL Sub Branch, providing music for the one kilometre March to the ANZAC Memorial and music for the Service, including the bugle calls, played by David Walker. The Service commenced at 9am. The Service again included both the New Zealand Anthem and the Australian Anthem. Following the Service, CNL Brass presented a one hour Concert for the club patrons at Stockton RSL and Citizens Club, providing a mixture of wartime favourites and more modern numbers.

David Walker plays the bugle calls at the Stockton RSL Sub Branch Service.

CNL Brass entertains patrons at the Stockton RSL & Citizens Club after the 2016 ANZAC Service.